title: Examination of the properties of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) in a population sample.
abstract: This study examines the following properties of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) in an unselected low-risk sample: (a) the maximum age for screen administration; (b) the positive screen rate in the absence of follow-up telephone interviews and; (c) the distributional properties of positive screens. Data came from a prospective cohort study (n = 1,604). Results suggest that the M-CHAT can appropriately be administered to children aged 20-48 months. Documented explanations provided by mothers during screening, appear to effectively identify potential screen misclassifications in the absence of the follow-up telephone interviews. This further emphasizes the importance of clinician expertise in verifying positive M-CHAT screens. Results have implications for the administration of the M-CHAT in clinical and research settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Western Ontario, Kresge Building, Room K201, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada.
authors.forename: Brie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yama
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Graves
authors.forename: Su
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karen Campbell
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D057189:Checklist; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D010808:Physical Examination; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity